Fire extinguishing process



J. EDMUNDSON FIRE EX'IIINGUISHING PROCESS Filed Feb. 4, 1955 E m m n o Ew H i m I A v 9 5 Z 56 H 2 J M 6 3 5 J 5 Z 7 j w? M M v n. 0, m 2 EL M wW fi wi m wwfi W T g H m mmwmk Z re 06 m "m a l ww mm @M 7 9 Aug. 24,1937.

Patented Aug. 24, 1937 Ubii'iED STATES rarer-ii orries 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a process for extinguishing fires in buildingsor enclosures and more particularly a process utilizing a noncombustiblecooling vapor or gas such as that obtained by vaporizing liquid or solidcarbon dioxide.

It is one object of my invention to provide an improved fireextinguishing process of this character that shall be highly efficientand not result in the damage to property that is caused by the processeswhich have been in general use.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved process of thischaracter that may be used effectively with all types of fires includingthose occurring in partitions or underneath piles of merchandise or inother inaccessible locations.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved process forextinguishing fires in buildings or enclosures which is readily carriedout with a minimum of skilled supervision or accessory equipment.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent fromthe following description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein are shown apparatus forcarrying out the improved process. In the drawing Fig. l is adiagrammatic view of one form of apparatus that may be used to carry outthe preferred process according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the tank or container for solid carbon dioxideshown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of the apparatus shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus embodying the invention isintended to be mounted upon a portable truck which is connected throughthe hose connections I I and i2 respectively to the building orenclosure iii. The truck upon which the equipment is mounted may be anordinary fire-engine truck and the motor of said truck may be employedfor circulating combustion gases from the vicinity of the fire throughthe hose ii, the apparatus on the truck and returning the same to thebuilding or enclosure l6 through the hose connection l2. Obviously theprocess may also be carried out with equipment installed in the buildingand connected to the area to be protected by means of similar hose orpipe connec- 50 tions or by means of a piping system similar to thoseemployed in automatic sprinkler systems.

A pump or blower I3 is shown having the inlet thereof connected to thehose connection II and the outlet connected to a chamber 14 in which a55 burner i5 is provided to consume the oxygen contained in theatmospheric gases from the burning building. The burner i5 is connectedto a suitable fuel tank It; arranged to supply liquid or gaseous fuel tothe burner. The outlet to the chamber it is connected by a pipeconnection I! to a cooler Hi to cool the combustion gases to any desiredextent. The cooler may be supplied with cooling water through an intakeit which may be connected to a hydrant or other source. Water outlets asand 25 from the cooler l8 may be connected as indicated to thefire-engine water pump and to the fire hose respectively, the pump beingused when the pressure of the water supply is insufficient for the firehose.

The combustion gases after being cooled in the cooler 58 are preferablyconducted through a pipe connection 25 to a tank 26 containing solidcarbon dioxide as indicated at 2?. The outlet of the tank 26 isconnected through the pipe connection 28 to the hose connection l2whereby the combustion gases mixed with the cold carbon dioxide gasvaporized from the solid carbon dioxide blocks 21 may be forced undersufficient pressure into the burning building to blanket the fire bydisplacing air from the combustion space and further to preventinfiltration of air through doors, windows or the openings in theoutside walls of the building iii. In this manner the fire may bequickly extinguished without the damage which results from the use oflarge amounts of water or chemicals such as are ordinarily employed. Ifdesired the cool combustion gases from the cooler l8 may be dischargeddirectly into the building or enclosure l0 through the pipe connection29 which by-passes the tank 26, valves 38, 3! and 32 being provided inthe pipe connections 25,28 and 29 for this purpose.

The tank 25 may be a welded metal tank having a charging opening 33 forfilling the same with solid carbon dioxide ice or snow. The mixture ofthe combustion gases from the building or enclosure with the cold vaporor gas given off by the carbon dioxide ice or snow effects furthercooling of the combustion gases and increases the volume thereof topermit the interior of the building or enclosure to be placed underpositive pressure thereby preventing infiltration of outside air whichwould support combustion. Instead of carbon dioxide any suitablenon-combustible vapor or gas having low boiling point, for example lessthan 180 F., may be employed. However the use of carbon dioxide ispreferred because it is inert and non-corrosive so that damage to thebuilding or its contents is minimized. As examples of other gases thatmight employed may be mentioned sulphur-dioxide. The carbon dioxide gasmay be obtained from liquid carbon dioxide instead of from carbondioxide ice or snow. This modification is illustrated in Fig. 3 whereina tank or container 35 of liquefied carbon dioxide is shown connected bythe T-connection 36 to the pipe connection 25 and discharge pipe 3'!leading to the enclosure. When the apparatus is placed in operation, theexpansion valve 38 on the container 35 is opened to d scharge vap'rr orgas from the tank into the stream of combustion gases in the pipeconnection 25. The cooled gases being admitted to the building orenclosure where the fire is in progress blanket the fire and effectivelyextinguish the same without damage to the building or contents.

Various modifications in the process described above are deemed to fallwithin the scope of the invention if within the terms of the appendedclaims.

I claim:-

1. The process of extinguishing a fire in abuild ing or enclosurecomprising the steps of withdrawing gases from the building orenclosure, deoxygenating the gases, cooling the deoxygenated gases withwater, admixing cold carbon dioxide gas therewith, by directingdeoxygenated gases through a carbon dioxide containing chamber returningthe mixture of gases to the building or enclosure to blanket the fire,and using said water after cooling said gases to aid in extinguishingthe fire.

2. The process of extinguishing a fire in a building or enclosurecomprising the steps of exhausting gases from the building or enclosure,cooling said gases with water, mixing a noncombustible gas therewith bydirect contact in a suitable mixing chamber, returning the mixture ofgases to the building or enclosure in sufficient volume to preventinfiltration of air through the openings in the outer walls of saidbuilding or enclosure, and using said water after cooling said gases toaid in extinguishing the fire.

3. The process of extinguishing a fire in a building or enclosurecomprising the steps of withdrawing gases from the building orenclosure, deoxygenating said gases, cooling the deoxygenated gases withwater, vaporizing a solid capable of evolving a non-combustible gas orvapor in contact with said gases, returning said mixture of gases intothe building or enclosure in sufiicient volume to prevent infiltrationof air through the openings in the outer walls of the building orenclosure, and using said water after cooling said gases to aid inextinguishing the fire.

4. The process of extinguishing fire in a building or an enclosure,including the steps of with drawing gases from the enclosure, coolingsaid gases by heat transfer relationship with water but out of contactwith said water, then passing said gases in intimate contact withsublimating solid carbon dioxide so as to further cool and mix with saidwithdrawn gases additional non-combustible gases, forcing said mixtureinto the building or enclosure to blanket the fire, and using said waterafter cooling said gases to aid in extinguishing the fire.

5. The process of extinguishing a fire in a building or enclosurecomprising the steps of withdrawing gases from the building orenclosure, deoxygenating the gases, cooling the deoxygenated gases,admixing cold carbon dioxide gas with the cooled deoxygenated gases andreturning the mixture of gases to the building or enclosure to blanketthe fire.

6. The process of extinguishing a fire in a building or enclosurecomprising the steps of exhausting gases from the building or enclosure,deoxygenating the gases, cooling said gases, mixing a non-combustiblegas therewith by direct contact, returning the mixture of gases to thebuilding or enclosure in sufficient volume to prevent infiltration ofair through openings in the outer wall of the enclosure.

JERONE EDMUN'DSON.

